64 LANID^E. 



before devouring them. Its habits and food are similar to 

 those of the last species, and it is said also to possess the 

 same imitative power. That it does impale insects and 

 even young birds on thorns there can be no doubt, as it 

 has been watched by a competent observer in the very act 

 of thus dealing with the carcase of a hedge-sparrow ; but 

 that it flays its victims, and suspends their skins as 



THE BED-BACKED SHRIKE. 



trophies is questionable ; nor less so, that it lures little 

 birds to their destruction by mimicking the call-notes of 

 their parents. Its courage and voracity may be gathered 

 from the following anecdote recorded in the Zoologist : * 

 " This morning a bird-catcher was following his vocation 

 near Norwich, when a Red-backed Shrike pounced on one 

 * VoL XI. page 3981. 



